Custom Shop Refin

doc540 · #1 01-08-2013, 01:29 PM

cheap gun, pretty finish

took 8 months to get it back

Hey, why not? I've done crazier things in my life.

arjay · #2 01-08-2013, 01:34 PM

Colt still does a nice polish and blue.

Maddog 521 · #3 01-08-2013, 01:34 PM

That is nice.

badguybuster · #4 01-08-2013, 01:34 PM

Gorgeous. Just gorgeous

doc540 · #5 01-08-2013, 01:36 PM

Thanks

I guess it's kind of like making a silk purse out of sow's ear to doll up a M1991A1 like that, but it's all I could afford at the time.

NFrameFred · #6 01-08-2013, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doc540

Thanks

I guess it's kind of like making a silk purse out of sow's ear to doll up a M1991A1 like that, but it's all I could afford at the time.

I beg to disagree ! Some snobs among us (and lest you think I'm finger pointing I have probably been accused of gun snobbery a time or two myself) denigrate the 1991A1's and value them less for nothing more than a bit of polishing and finishing. And not much less polishing and finishing than the "spensive" ones. Same gun, same company, same parts. And I've owned new-in-the-box 70 series guns, a couple of Gold Cups, and probably more different 1911 style guns over the years than any other single type/model.

Anyone who turns their nose up at a 1991A1, especially as nice as that, is a pretentious posing moron.

Enjoy it - there are those who will say "I'd have just spent the same money on a 'blah-blah' whatever . . . good for them. Says more about them and their self-image problem than it does the quality, practicality and usefulness of a Colt 1991A1.

CptCurl · #7 01-08-2013, 02:24 PM

Quote:

. . . is a pretentious posing moron.

Would that be a pretentious person posing as a moron? A moron posing as a pretentious person? A pretentious moron posing as a person?

I'm not flaming your post, just having a little chuckle! Tell us how you really feel. Don't hold it in!

NFrameFred · #8 01-08-2013, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CptCurl

Would that be a pretentious person posing as a moron? A moron posing as a pretentious person? A pretentious moron posing as a person?

I'm not flaming your post, just having a little chuckle! Tell us how you really feel. Don't hold it in!

Probably a pretentious poser . . . and a moron !

Maximumbob54 · #9 01-08-2013, 02:39 PM

I assume you swapped out the MSH as well?

And are those Ahrends grip panels?

I like the look. I own three ORM 1991A1's and if the price is right I would buy another.

A10 · #10 01-08-2013, 02:48 PM

I doubt that there is a prettier '91 on the planet! Simply spectacular!

doc540 · #11 01-08-2013, 03:11 PM

Thanks

Yessir, the Custom Shop did me the favor of swapping out both the plastic trigger and MSH for no extra charge.

I only had to give about $600 for the M1991A1 red-headed stepchild, but it was the only Colt 1911 I could afford at the time.

And Kim Ahrends made the grips from some old goncalo alves I sent him so the grips would match the box a friend made for me.

HotRoderX · #12 01-08-2013, 03:18 PM

Wow that's a nice looking 1911 I think I done the same thing. As far as I am concerned there is no such thing as a beater 1911 special from colt.

Maximumbob54 · #13 01-08-2013, 03:18 PM

My first 1991A1 was the only 1911 I could afford at the time as well. Or at least it was the only Colt I could afford at the time. There are very few things I get brand name snobbery about but I prefer Colt to any brand. That's not to say I think other brands are junk, I just prefer my 1911's to have the Colt name on them somewhere.

Interesting to hear and good on Colt for swapping the parts for free!!!

Alnamvet68 · #14 01-08-2013, 03:20 PM

Very nice 1991. FTR, Colt hasn't done blueing in a while, instead having farmed out most of that work to Doug Turnbull, APW/Cogan Custom, and Ron's Gun Shop who, btw, did the Carbonia finish on the initial run of WWI Repro's.

WC145 · #15 01-08-2013, 06:08 PM

Looks great! I've been waiting to see how it was going to come out, they really did a nice job. Did you have any internal work done?
Those older 1991A1s are real sleepers when it comes to Colts. You guys have all seen my custom Compact and right now I have a full size .38 Super getting worked over. It'll be at least summer before it's done but I think it's going to be really nice, it's going to be a 3 caliber piece with .38 Super, 9mm, and 9x23 Winchester barrels fitted.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alnamvet68

Very nice 1991. FTR, Colt hasn't done blueing in a while, instead having farmed out most of that work to Doug Turnbull, APW/Cogan Custom, and Ron's Gun Shop who, btw, did the Carbonia finish on the initial run of WWI Repro's.

Are you sure about that?

2152hq · #16 01-08-2013, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WC145

Are you sure about that?

Turnbull wasn't doing any Colt factory re-finishing work as late as 93 when I left there. But they did send special order work.
We were just starting to do the SAA's both case color and carbonia blue. The bluing process was just starting to get feet under it and still had some problems though.
Colt was sending the frames w/gate, tg & bstrap, cylinder, ect as machined,,for polishing and finish. They were much easier to do than trying to correct any factory polishing of the day and then finish them.

The parts right off their machining processes were clean and sharp and about a 320 grit finish to start with. Nice & easy to polish out after working with resurrection candidates all the time.
But they could become just 'work' if you had to do alot of them. No fun for sure.

After I left there, I did hear that he was polishing and (carbonia) bluing the new production 45 autos. I imagine they came in the same state as the SAA's.
I heard RGS (Rons Gun Shop) was doing some of the work also but that's just 'what I heard'.
They do nice case color and charcoal bluing also. A lot of engravers and custom gunsmiths use him for their finishing as well.

USFA frames and parts were in there too. Same thing but they were already polished and only needed the finishes done and shipped back.
CSMCo c/c/h work was done there till Tony Galazan decided enough was enough dealing w/Doug and started doing the case color hardening himself in New Britain. That was about '99 I think.
Case coloring for Marlin on commemorative 336's (Kentucky Bi-Centenial)
..that was a fiasco..
It was turning into a quick turn-over factory instead of a restoration shop.

He tried to get Ruger's work in doing case color work on their single actions. The proprietary case color look that they use(d) was a chemical application and nothing to do with the original process.
He thought he had them sold on it and for big $$. Even thought Ruger was going to buy exclusive rights to his C/C process and he could retire.
Didn't happen.
We continued to case color Ruger SA frames and all other kinds of stuff, some that didn't work out well at all.
But you never see or hear of those!!

Then there was the raid on the shop by the NYS DEC. Felony warrant for 'Crimes against the Environment'
Helmets, vests, shotguns, and MP5 type of subgun or two,,,the works.
Stand against the wall, ect. Customers out, Shop closed.
"Are there any firearms or other deadly weapons on the premises?" was a question quickly shouted by one of the young raiders.
This is going to be an awfully long day I thought as I gazed around at the walls and benches.,,

Just some thoughts from the past. 20yrs ago & more now.

TANKER · #17 01-08-2013, 07:37 PM

You do realize that gun is just begging for a set of real ivory grips?

Alnamvet68 · #18 01-08-2013, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WC145

Are you sure about that?

Yes.

.........

doc540 · #19 01-08-2013, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TANKER

You do realize that gun is just begging for a set of real ivory grips?

Yessir, but it's going to wear goncalo alves that hung in my friend's workshop for nearly 30 years. No telling how old the wood actually is.

This is the GC I had to sell last year.

For those unfamiliar with Colt's red-headed stepchild:

KSCowboy · #20 01-09-2013, 11:08 AM

Hey Doc,

What did the blue job cost? I've got one of them that I would like done that way.

doc540 · #21 01-09-2013, 02:00 PM

I think the website lists $350 for a Royal Blue refin.

And there's the expense of shipping it to them.

Cheapest way to get it to them is by your local FFL.

Otherwise, it has to be Overnight by either FedEx or UPS.

I went the FFL route.

hope this helps

Maximumbob54 · #22 01-09-2013, 06:32 PM

I won't cry if you post more pics.

KSCowboy · #23 01-09-2013, 06:34 PM

Thanks Doc!

Went to the Colt website and it says:

Please be advised that due to a high demand of pay for services we are temporarily not accepting work in the Product Service department for refinishing, polishing type work or metal cutting work. These services should resume in the 1st quarter of 2013.

So I guess it will be a while before I can do this.

doc540 · #24 01-09-2013, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSCowboy

Thanks Doc!

Went to the Colt website and it says:

Please be advised that due to a high demand of pay for services we are temporarily not accepting work in the Product Service department for refinishing, polishing type work or metal cutting work. These services should resume in the 1st quarter of 2013.

So I guess it will be a while before I can do this.

Well, it IS the first quarter of 2013.

Shoot me a pm, and I'll do what I can to help.